We are set to ink this deal today!

Since it doesn't seem you had one when you took things over, you need to have or build up an emergency fund that at minimum keeps the mortgage current even if the tenant is late, then build it up more so it is ready to use for when you do have a turnover or unexpected repair.  

Certainly something to think about but I will need to build up a team as my hands are pretty full with the flip business.

I'd like to build up to 7+ properties.I plan on starting another career in about 3 years and at that point I would pay down on the properties more aggressively to pay them off and get more cashflow in my pocket.I feel this is a better investment both short and long term vs getting my real estate license but this will allow me to work in the industry and save money on purchases.I would manage the properties myself and even make repairs as well(I am very handy).Seem feasible?

Thanks @Paul Ritzman for starting this thread.I am investing in King County and S.

Recently, we shifted our ideas to flipping houses to build up the cash for down payment for a bigger property like apartments.

Paying the taxes at the "front end" when you're young makes a lot of sense- any money you make in the future off that IRA will be tax free, and you could build up quite a bit between now and when you retire.  

look up wholesaling, build up some money then be a investor?

To further complicate things I am looking to move to Tucson in the very near future, but for now let's just stick to Maryland.I manage technology projects as a DoD contractor by day, and by night I spend most of my time trying to build up enough income to be able to leave my cubicle some day.

I'm going the wholesale route before the rehab route to build up some cash.